A birth certificate is a legal document
that can be used to prove your child's age, citizenship and
parentage.

After your baby is born, hospital staff
will provide you with a Birth Certificate Worksheet. Once
you have completed the worksheet and given it to your nurse,
St. Luke's will send it to the State of Idaho Bureau
of Vital Statistics (BVS), where it will be processed.

St. Luke's cannot provide you with a copy
of your baby's birth certificate. Birth certificates can
only be obtained through BVS. To request a certified copy
of your child's birth certificate, you may either:

The Birth Certificate Worksheet gives you
the option to automatically request a social security number
for your baby. This number is issued free of charge by the Social
Security Administration. If you choose this option, a
social security card will be mailed directly to your home
in approximately 6 to 12 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will I receive a birth certificate for
my baby?

A. No, you will not automatically receive
a birth certificate. What you will receive is a notice
from the State of Idaho Bureau of Vital Statistics verifying
that your baby's Birth Certificate Worksheet has been processed.
If you did not provide a current address on the worksheet,
or if you have recently moved, you will need to let the
Bureau of Vital Statistics know about your change of address,
in order to receive this verification.

If you would like a certified copy of
your baby's birth certificate, it can be obtained only
by request through the State of Idaho Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Although the Birth Certificate Worksheet is filled out
at the hospital where your baby is delivered, hospitals
cannot provide a birth certificate.

Q. I requested a copy of my baby's birth
certificate several weeks ago, but have not received it.
What should I do?

A. Contact the State of Idaho Bureau
of Vital Statistics at (208) 334-5988 (English translation)
or (208) 334-5980 (Spanish translation).

Q. On the Birth Certificate Worksheet that
I filled out at the hospital, I opted to get a social security
card for my baby, but I have not received it. What should
I do?

A. If it has been less than 3 months
since you filled out the worksheet, please be patient.
If it has been more than 3 months, you may need to contact
the Social Security Administration.
Please be aware that if you did not fully complete the
Birth Certificate Worksheet while at the hospital, the
Bureau of Vital Statistics will not forward the information
to Social Security Administration.

If you recently moved, you must contact
the Social Security Administration,
as the Post Office will not forward mail originating from
Social Security.

Q. What happens if I leave the hospital
before making a decision about what to name my baby?

A. If you do not list a name for your
baby, St. Luke's will hold the Birth Certificate Worksheet
for approximately 10 days. During this time, you may return
to the hospital and provide the name to our Birth Certificate
specialist. You will need to bring legal photo identification
with you for this purpose.

If a name is not provided within 10 days,
the baby will be given the mother's last name. The worksheet
will then be forwarded to the State of Idaho Bureau of
Vital Statistics.

Q. Can my baby have his father's last name,
even if we are not married?

A. Yes. However, be aware that paternity
is not established simply by last name. Legally, you can
choose any first, middle or last name for your baby. In
order to establish legal paternity, you must fill out a
Paternity Affidavit.

Q. While filling out the Birth Certificate
Sheet at the hospital, I did not opt to get a social security
number for my baby. I would now like to do so. What steps
do I take to get one at this time?